The Brothers Grimsby

Normally I am not overly keen on the movies that Sacha Baron Cohen stars in, because he is fairly singular and monotonous in his movies. As in if you've seen one of his movies, you have essentially seen all.

However I decided to give the movie a chance because it had Mark Strong on the cast list, and also because my wife said it was a hilarious movie. It turned out that this was actually a rather enjoyable and funny movie. There were some really funny moments throughout the course of the movie. And yes, I did laugh a lot throughout this movie as the endless gags kept coming.

The storyline was a good combination of serious plot and silly comedy. And I must admit that this was one of Sascha Baron Cohen's better movies actually.

The Brothers Grimsby" is good for an evening of cheap laughs, but I doubt this is a movie that you will pick up and watch more than once as it doesn't seem to have enough contents to support more than a single viewing.

I don't think I have ever written a review on IMDb before, but on this occasion, I feel I must.

Thank you, Mr Cohen for giving me the biggest belly laughs I've had from any film in years.

This film is comedy gold. Sure, the story-line is wafer-thin, but who cares? Although on this turn-out, this film is a bit of departure from Cohen's previous outings - less mockumentary and more narrative, but it is gag after gag - non-stop. My sides were hurting before the end of the first act.

Some of the other sourpuss reviews here miss the point. If I go to see a comedy, I'm not expecting an Oscar winning, thought-provoking drama. I want escapism. I'm willing to suspend my disbelief completely in exchange for a few good laughs.

This film delivers that in spades - and more.

For when a film causes you to bury your mouth in your elbow in fear of disturbing your fellow film-goers with your laughter, you know you're having a good time.

And that's all I want from a movie.

Thanks again, Mr. Cohen!

Nobby Butcher (Sacha Baron Cohen) is an idiot football hooligan from Grimsby and has 11 children with Dawn (Rebel Wilson). He is looking to reconnect with estranged brother Sebastian Graves (Mark Strong). Sebastian is now a gunman for an MI6 offshoot. His investigation leads to actress philanthropist Rhonda George (Penelope Cruz). Nobby's interference causes Sebastian to be blamed for an assassination. Sebastian is forced to team up with his secret brother Nobby.

Nobby is partially annoying. Once I get over it, his idiocy is a little funny. It's all silly and outrageous. I'm half rolling my eyes, and half smirking in disbelief. I'm bored with the poop jokes and the more obvious stuff. The shock humor is over the top. On the other hand, SBC often hits the audience with some unexpected humor. It's a real mix bag.

That was insane.

The over the top scenes where they just take things to the next level left me gasping for air half from laughing half in surprise. There are a few that are going to be hard to forget.

Surprisingly good action scenes every now and then and otherwise well timed humor.

I watched it alone and would not watch it with the wife, but I am going to try just to see her either cringe or laugh at the same scenes. As an experiment.

The good thing about Sacha Baron Cohen's movies is that you know exactly what you are in for when you step into the cinema.

Anybody who is offended at the crude humour in SBC's movies, has only themselves to blame.

So what can you expect? Funny dialogues, a nonsense script, hilarious jokes (and yes, also some hit/miss ones but that is to be expected with this rollercoaster), decent action scenes and lots and lots of dirty, filthy, cringe-worhty scenes. Love it!

The funniest thing: casting Liam Gallagher as Nobby and starting the movie with a song by Blur and having Noel Gallagher sing "Cigarettes & Alcohol". You have to hand it to SBC: he does not leave a stone unturned in his quest to offend people.